TK Chua

I have written many letters supporting PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail because as the opposition leader, I know the difficulties and challenges she must face each day. It is a tough balancing act requiring goodwill, negotiations, trade-offs and compromises.

I refer to the PM’s urging for a new approach in spending - asking government departments and agencies to exercise thrift and be rewarded when there are savings from unfinished allocations by the end of the year.

The unravelling of events in Pakatan Rakyat is just too perplexing to let go without comment.

So far two federal ministers have made comments on the value of the Malaysian ringgit. The first was by Minister of International Trade and Industry Mustapa Mohamed who said a weaker ringgit will benefit Malaysia in terms of boosting exports and foreign investments. 

When I read the news on the boy (see, we don’t even know his name) killed and buried in the kitchen floor and how his mother and siblings have helped to cover up the crime, it makes me think of the ‘parallels’ now prevailing in this country.

According to news reports, a restructuring plan is being proposed for 1MDB and the cabinet will be considering it.

Since the 11th Malaysia Plan was announced by the prime minister in Parliament on Thursday, there have been numerous comments and criticisms on the plan.

When growing up, I learnt what living in a democracy is all about. I learned that in a democracy, the government is elected by the majority of the people. The government will serve and protect the people and look after their welfare and interests. The constitution is supposed to provide the parameters and define the power of the government.

The prime minister has assured Tabung Haji contributors that their deposits in the fund are safe. There is no reason for contributors to withdraw their savings since the government is the guarantor of their deposit.

It took a land deal by Tabung Haji (TH) with 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to heighten our attention to the problem now brewing in 1MDB. Thanks to the land deal, there is now an avalanche of criticisms raining on 1MDB and Tabung Haji.

Recently there was a proposal to extend the full withdrawal age of our Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) savings from age 55 to 60. However, the prime minister has quite quickly announced that the withdrawal age should remain at 55. Then a survey was done to gather the views of contributors and the general consensus was to maintain the withdrawal age at 55.

Do we seriously think at his age and with his stature, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has a personal and hidden agenda when he speaks up? Do we seriously think he is afraid to go to jail as some would say? Do we seriously think he is promoting his children to be the next prime minister of Malaysia? Do we seriously think he cares two hoots of his legacy and the interests of his cronies at this juncture of his life?

We are a nation obsessed with rankings - rankings of any kind - from university quality, human development, quality of life, environment, national competitiveness to gross domestic product (GDP) and income level.

Recently I read an article which asked the lawmakers to give ‘greater strength’ for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to combat corruption.

Many reports and comments have emerged since the cross protest in Taman Medan. Some of these reports have attributed the incident to bullying of the minority by the majority. Simply put, those who bullied others have drawn their courage and insolence from the fact that they are the majority in this country.

Since the problems in 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) surfaced, many questions were raised but very few satisfactory answers were forthcoming. Instead, we are now asked to wait for the auditor-general’s report which has an open timeframe to complete the study. In the meantime, some quarters are also asking for an independent inquiry into the same issues in 1MDB.

A housewife when asked in a straw poll on the goods and services tax (GST) yesterday said, “I think I will buy only what I need and also (opt for) items on special promotions.”

Finally the goods and services tax (GST) is upon us.  We shall wait with bated breath how the new tax will play out in our lives, the Malaysian economy and government finance.

If you care to follow and listen closely to the news, these terms - ‘up to’, ‘waiting for’ and ‘it depends’ are now the ‘favourite terminologies’ of Malaysia’s public administration.

I think this country is in serious trouble not because we are lacking in resources and capability. We just have too many politicians who are nincompoops. These are the illogical and myopic people who have clearly manifested their middle kingdom mentality. They think they know everything but in reality they know nothing.